Space Attractions Down To Earth In California

by Chris Owen on


Space Shuttle Endeavor arrives at the California Science Center soon and space exploration is on the minds of local and visiting space travel fans. Visitors to Los Angeles can see a variety of historical and futuristic space exhibitions and attractions within driving distance from LAX. California residents and visitors alike are rediscovering the state’s rich space-oriented past along with current places of interest that are helping charge the U.S. space program of tomorrow.

Let’s take a look at what California has to offer travelers interested in space-themed points of interest:

Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) (Pasadena) has played a major role in U.S. space exploration achievements and offers free two-hour tours of its Pasadena facility. Right now, NASA’s Mars Curiosity team is performing robotic arm tests in preparation for the rover to touch and examine its first Martian rock.

Griffith Observatory (Los Angeles) reopened in 2007 after a four-year, $93 million renovation. The 9,000-pound Zeiss Telescope can accommodate as many as 600 viewings per night, giving visitors an unmatched view of the moon and stars on a clear Los Angeles night.

Columbia Memorial Space Center (Downey) is the national memorial for the Space Shuttle Columbia’s seven crew members, lost in 2003 but also a hands-on learning center, dedicated to bringing the wonder and excitement of space science to children of all ages.

Discovery Museum Science & Space Center (Sacramento) is home to the Challenger Learning Center and houses an animal discovery room, nature trails, wildlife pond and Sacramento’s only public planetarium. Weekend activities include animal presentations for all ages, make and take crafts, and planetarium shows.Kidspace Children’s Museum (Pasadena) has more than two-dozen interactive exhibits designed for children from ages 1 to 10. At the Museum’s Gavin Physics Forest, kids can learn first hand about what it takes to get an object into space by creating mini-bottle rockets and study gravitational acceleration with the Ball Bounce exhibit.

Space Mountain– No list of California space attractions would be complete without Disneyland’s Space Mountain, the high-speed thrill ride that has hurtled visitors into the final fun frontier since 1977.


Flickr photo by Lance Cheung

Six Flags Steps Up Entertainment, Cirque Style

by Chris Owen on

California’s Six Flags Discovery Kingdom this week announced a partnership with Cirque Productions’ Neil Goldberg and his Cirque Dreams entertainment brand to add a new cutting edge dolphin show featuring Cirque Dreams in spring 2013 titled Cirque Dreams Splashtastic – the Most Amazing Show Above H20.

This new aquatic production teams up the park’s marine mammals with Cirque’s company of acrobats, aerialists and Cirque Dreams acts that promise a unique theme park experience. If this is anything close to the quality of Cirque Dreams and Dinner, featured on Norwegian Cruise Line’s latest cruise ship, Norwegian Epic, theme park fans should love it.”We are excited to bring the unique magic of Cirque Dreams to our guests,” said Dale Kaetzel, park president, in a Wall Street Journal Marketwatch article. “This mesmerizing new water spectacle is a great complement to our existing line-up of rides, shows and animal attractions making us Northern California’s best entertainment destination.”

Cirque Dreams Splashtastic joins wildlife shows and animal attractions that include Pinnipeds of the Caribbean sea lion show, Odin’s Temple of the Tiger, Birds of the World, Elephant Encounter, and Walrus Experience educational demonstration shows.

Cirque Dreams stable of popular shows include Cirque Dreams Jungle Fantasy, Cirque Dreams Illumination, Cirque Dreams & Dinner onboard Norwegian Epic and upcoming Norwegian Breakaway, Cirque Dreams Rocks, and Cirque Dreams Holidaze, now in its fourth consecutive touring season and success from The Kennedy Center.



[Photo- Cirque Productions]

Insider Secrets No Secret To Disney World Cast Members

by Chris Owen on

Frankly, the best insider secret on how to get the most out of a visit to Walt Disney World is to go with a Disney cast member. They know exactly where to be at any given time for no wait on the best rides. They know what venues have the best food and, if something special is going on, when to be where for that. If a Disney cast member in your back pocket is not in the cards, Disney Insider offers the next best thing.

“Comfy sneakers, sunscreen, and jackets (for chilly nights) are must-haves, but before heading to Disneyland and Walt Disney World Resorts, you can learn the ropes from experienced Theme Park-goers – especially for first-time visits,” says Disney Insider and their tips ring true.

Giving details on what time of the day to go (afternoon on the weekends) and even which months are best to avoid crowds (October), Disney Insider tells how to get the most out of Extra Magic Hours, Disney’s FastPass service and more.Offering tips on everything from where to find recipes for Disney Gumbo, Mint Juleps or Walt’s Favorite Chili to what time is best to gather for Character Meet and Greets, Disney Insider is available by email subscription, RSS feed and Facebook.

Helping make the most of every magical moment, Disney Insider has the most current information. Almost as current as having a Disney cast member along for the ride.

Did you know that pin collectors can trade with any cast member as long as they don’t already have the same pin? See this new video for more:




Flickr photo by Christian Lambert (DVCphoto92)

Space Center Adds Up-Close Tours

by Chris Owen on

While Kennedy Space Center will not be launching space shuttles anymore, the 39-acre complex in Florida has not shut down for lack of anything to do. In addition to ongoing space programs, travelers visiting the Space Coast of Florida have some new options with up-close tours, some that were never before possible in the 50 year history of the facility.

“You’re going to be close to where history has been made and will be made in the future with new programs currently under development for space exploration,” Bill Moore, chief operating officer of the center’s Visitor Complex, said in a Los Angeles Times story.

Kennedy Space Center has added new access to previously restricted areas, including Launch Complex 39 where space shuttles and six Apollo missions took off. Called “KSC Up-Close” a choice of three walking, guided tours bring a deeper look at specific aspects of Kennedy Space Center.
In June, Gadling featured the Launch Control Center (LCC) tour that gets visitors inside Firing Room 4, one of the LCC’s four firing rooms and the one from which all 21 shuttle launches since 2006 were controlled.

Other tours offered include the Vehicle Assembly Building tour, where visitors are granted access to the secure area, and the Launch Pad tour that goes nearly a quarter-mile within the perimeter security fence of Launch Pad 39-A.

All guided tours are $25 per adult and $19 per child (ages 3-11) plus tax and can be reserved online. Reservations, while not required, are suggested as tours sell out every day.


Flickr photo by mehul.antani

Artist Campaigns To Convert Abandoned Detroit Neighborhood Into A Zombie Theme Park

by Jessica Festa on



While Detroit, Michigan, doesn’t exactly have the best reputation when it comes to safety and quality of life, Mark Siwak wants to help change that. The artist has made a request on Indiegogo, asking for help with a new idea to turn an abandoned Detroit neighborhood into a usable zombie theme park.

The project, called “Z World Detroit,” will make constructive use of homes and buildings that have been left behind. Because of the rundown atmosphere of these neglected urban areas, the idea wouldn’t even be difficult to pull off. The only other thing really necessary would be some zombie actors. Additionally, it will bring a quirky, new attraction to a city that is often looked down upon by visitors.

“The Z World Detroit initiative is a radical rethinking of urban redevelopment and Detroit’s well-documented blight and de-population,” reads the Indiegogo page. “It turns perceived liabilities into assets that will bring a renewed vitality to a struggling neighborhood.”According to Digital Trends, the way the theme park would work would be like a giant game. Players would run and hide from zombies, try to find food and supplies and try to find other survivors. Each player would wear a certain number of patches, which would get torn off one by one during each zombie encounter. Once all the patches were gone, the player would join the zombie team. Zombies could also be eliminated once their patches were ripped off, and there would be opportunities to collect extra patches during the game.

At this point, Siwak is just trying to collect initial funding for the concept. The goal is to raise $145,000 by August 25, 2012, at 11:59 p.m. Currently, the project has raised $8,106. To donate click here. To learn more about the project, check out the video above.